Animal care experts from Walt Disney World Resort recently assisted the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission with the successful release of a 680-pound manatee named Plantaina at Blue Spring State Park, about 50 miles northeast of Walt Disney World Resort.

Plantaina is a young female manatee who was rescued as a baby near Fort Lauderdale, Florida. She was just 28 pounds at the time, making her the smallest manatee ever rescued.

After a successful initial rehab, Plantaina was released back into the wild (Feb. 2021). However, she was soon discovered to be losing weight which required another rescue and rehabilitation before coming to The Seas with Nemo & Friends at EPCOT, where 24 other manatees have been rehabilitated over the years.

Disney animal care experts provide ill and injured manatees with the stable, controlled environment they need to make a recovery and prepare for release. The manatees receive exceptional veterinary care including preventive health exams, a calorie-rich diet, and around-the-clock monitoring to help them return to the wild when they are fit. Once released, some manatees like Plaintaina are assigned a satellite tracker that enables experts to continue to monitor the animal’s health, migration, and socialization with other manatees. These satellite trackers are designed to break away if they become entangled in order to prioritize the health of the manatee.

Unfortunately, manatee rescues and rehabilitations are becoming a lot more common in Florida. A severe lack of food is causing concern as runoff and pollution continue to threaten their main food source. Each of these large herbivores can eat up to 300 pounds of seagrass a day, and many are beginning to starve from the lack of aquatic plants, further impacting this endangered species.

Plantaina is one of six manatees to complete rehabilitation at Walt Disney World Resort over the last year. Manatees in rehabilitation at Disney may receive up to 150 heads of romaine lettuce each day depending on their individual needs, along with the occasional treat of apples, carrots, and sweet potatoes, to help them return to their natural weight before they are able to be released.

In addition to the releases, the Disney Conservation Fund has provided grants to more than 15 nonprofit organizations to better understand manatee populations, biology, and habitat use, aid in the restoration of seagrass, and provide care for manatees.

These manatee releases, along with funding from the Disney Conservation Fund and knowledge and expertise from Disney’s Animals, Science, and Environment, help make a difference in the conservation of this amazing species.

*Footage was produced under the authority of USFWS Permit No. MA770191

Saving the galaxy this time is gonna take more than a dance-off. Starting summer 2022, guests visiting EPCOT at Walt Disney World Resort better get ready to crank up the mixtape and blast through an awesome intergalactic chase through time and space in Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind!

This thrilling new family-friendly coaster matches the “grandosity” and fun of the blockbuster “Guardians of the Galaxy” films, featuring those lovable cosmic misfits – Rocket, Groot, Drax, Gamora and Star-Lord. The attraction is another major milestone in the ongoing transformation of EPCOT and debuts as part of the Walt Disney World 50^th Anniversary celebration.

Located in the park’s newly renamed World Discovery neighborhood, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind will be the first “other-world” showcase pavilion at EPCOT. Xandarians traveled from their homeworld in the Andromeda galaxy to Earth – or Terra, as they call it – to build this Wonders of Xandar pavilion, inviting EPCOT guests to learn more about their people and their advanced technologies. Until the Guardians arrive, anyway, and adventure ensues.

What to Expect at Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind!

A New Kind of Family Thrill

In addition to the Wonders of Xandar pavilion, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind will offer several other “firsts,” including:

• The first coaster attraction at EPCOT.
• The first reverse launch for a Disney coaster.
• The first Walt Disney World attraction to feature the Guardians of the Galaxy.
• I am Groot.

The Wonders of Xandar Pavilion

Xandarians have come to Earth and are hard at work building their new EPCOT pavilion. Highlights include:

• The Galaxarium, a sweeping planetarium-style space showcasing planets, stars and other intergalactic wonders that connect Terra and Xandar.
• The Xandar Gallery, where guests will discover more about the Xandarian people, culture and history – including the heroes of Xandar – through specially crafted displays and projections.
• I … am … Grooooot.

Awesome Facts

• Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind will be one of the longest fully enclosed coasters in the world, housed in one of the largest show buildings ever constructed for a Disney theme park.
• By volume, four Spaceship Earths would fit inside the attraction’s massive new show building.
• Academy Award® nominee Glenn Close reprises her role from “Guardians of the Galaxy” as Nova Prime, the leader of Xandar and commander of the Nova Corps.
• Disney Imagineers were recently on-set for “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” to film with the Guardians for this new attraction.
• A Starblaster will stand outside the Wonders of Xandar building, the first full-size version of this Xandarian ship ever built.
• AM. GROOT!

Are you excited about this new experience at EPCOT?

The 50^th anniversary of Walt Disney World Resort is a time to celebrate Walt Disney’s legacy and vision. Walt knew food could be much more than just something you eat, but rather an entertaining, experiential and essential element of immersive storytelling.

New food and drink selections for “The World’s Most Magical Celebration” honoring the 50^th anniversary bring Walt’s vision to life in new ways, offering nods to the resort’s past while pushing culinary adventures to exciting new places during the 18-month event. These include theme park classics and inspiration from some of Walt Disney’s favorite meals, along with novel dishes and drinks full of color, whimsy, and a touch of EARidescent shimmer.

Nods to the Past

Walt’s personal recipes, past and present attractions, and nostalgic dishes from 1971 all serve as inspiration for the creative and whimsical food and beverage specially made for “The World’s Most Magical Celebration.”

Walt’s palate was relatively simple, with some of his favorite meals including meat and potatoes, chili, prime rib hash, and fried chicken, along with lemon, apple, chocolate, and bread pudding desserts. Disney chefs looked to his recipes from the archives and reimagined them for the 50^th anniversary celebration. The chefs and mixologists also drew inspiration from the iconic opening-day attractions.

Highlights of items across Walt Disney World that nod to the past include:

Magic Kingdom Park

• The Toad Burger (Friar’s Nook) – Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride inspired this whimsical brat burger that includes a pickle slice representing the toad’s tongue and two olives as his eyes, evoking Mr. Toad’s fun-loving, adventurous nature.
• Pressed Penny Silk Pie (Casey’s Corner) – A chocolate tart shell, silky chocolate filling, whipped cream and a chocolate-pressed penny make up this treat, themed to one of Walt’s favorite desserts and the popular pressed-coin machines throughout the parks.
• Squids Revenge (Be Our Guest Restaurant) – A michelada with a salted rim and charred octopus and cucumber garnish showcases an attraction from opening day – 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea – and its iconic giant squid.
• Marceline Missouri Mudslide (Plaza Restaurant) – The Plaza Cone Shop opened in 1971 with popular sweet treat combinations, including a variety of milkshakes. This mudslide – a blend of vanilla porter beer, chocolate syrup, whipped cream and crispy chocolate pearls – is a special twist on a shake that pays tribute to Walt’s hometown of Marceline, Missouri.
• Mission to Mars (Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café) – Inspired by Tomorrowland’s Mission to Mars attraction, this burger is topped with bacon and macaroni and cheese, and served on a bun dusted with crushed cheese-flavored puffs, giving the appearance of the red planet.
• Happy Haunts Milkshake (Columbia Harbor House) – This blackberry milkshake topped with a purple chocolate-glazed and black-sprinkled doughnut honors the grim grinning ghosts of the Haunted Mansion.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park

• Cheese Fries with Walt’s Chili and Walt’s Favorite Chili on Foot-long Hot Dog (Restaurantosaurus) – Two of the restaurant’s nostalgic fan favorites, hot dogs and fries, topped with Walt’s favorite chili.
• 50^th Celebration Chocolate Gâteau (Tiffins) – Paying homage to Walt’s favorite chocolate desserts, this decadent delight features a cinnamon-chocolate gâteau, almond praline, ganache and chocolate cream liqueur sauce.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

• Filet Mignon with Walt’s Hash (The Hollywood Brown Derby) – A distinctly Walt-inspired meal, featuring grilled filet mignon atop Walt’s signature roast beef hash with a fried egg.

EPCOT

• Mini Chocolate Bundt Cake (Sunshine Seasons) – One of Walt’s favorite chocolate desserts gets all dressed up for the celebration with EARidescent shimmer and sprinkles, plus a chocolate 50^th anniversary garnish.

Disney Springs

• 50^th Celebration Petit Cake (Amorette’s Patisserie) – A delicious dessert with beautiful storytelling, featuring a vanilla chiffon cake with celebration blue mousse, blueberry jam and lemon curd. Not only does the petit cake nod to the past, it is also decorated with the celebration’s signature EARidescent shimmer.
• 50^th Celebration Chocolate Bundle (The Ganachery) – These unique chocolates celebrate 50 years of magical sights, smells, tastes and sounds with their rich colors, sweet aromas, complementary flavors and playful crunch. The chocolate bar includes milk chocolate, caramel and crispies, while the square includes cake ganache and sprinkles, enrobed in dark chocolate and decorated with a shimmering castle design.

Disney Resort Hotels

• 50^th Celebration Soufflé (Disney’s Contemporary Resort) – A timeless orange-flavored liqueur soufflé with orange-flavored liqueur-scented crème anglaise.
• 50th Anniversary Vintage Minnie’s Brown Betty Profiterole (Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa) – A cream puff that harkens to the past, resembling Minnie Mouse’s vintage hat and filled with one of Walt’s favorite flavors, cinnamon-spiced apples and Chantilly cream.
• Chicken Dinner Cupcake Trio (Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground) – Fort Wilderness has served more than 10 million chicken dinners, and this homage of a dessert features fried chicken-apple fritters with apple pie moonshine filling and vanilla buttercream.
• Braised Lamb Shank (Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort) – An elevated meat-and-potatoes meal, with braised lamb shank, potato purée, rosemary-roasted garlic gravy, huckleberry jam and English peas.

Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park

• Loaded Nachos with Walt’s Chili (Avalunch) – Walt’s favorite chili atop loaded nachos.

A Touch of EARidescence

Each Walt Disney World theme park has its own EARidescent shimmer, and Disney chefs and mixologists have used these specific colors as inspiration to add sparkle to celebratory creations at all four parks. EARidescent offerings across Walt Disney World include:

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park

• Hand-dipped 50^th Celebration Mickey Premium Bar (Drinkwallah) – The famous Nestlé Mickey’s Premium Ice Cream Bar receives a special 50^th anniversary touch with a blue raspberry “hat” and a bit of pixie dust.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

• Glimmer and Shimmer Pineapple Mousse (Trolley Car Café) – A golden pineapple mousse on a toasted coconut crisp with caramel cream and matcha sponge cake that is shaped like a pineapple. The pineapple is considered a symbol of hospitality, so not only does this dessert represent the Disney philosophy, it also features the golden shimmer and glimmer of the 50^th

EPCOT

• EARidescent Croissant Doughnut (EPCOT Experience) – The fan-favorite treat makes its festive return to EPCOT with an EARidescent shimmer from blue icing and sprinkles.

Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park

• EARidescent Ice Dream Cone (I.C. Expeditions) – This birthday cake-flavored soft serve swirl in a white-chocolate-dipped cone honors the celebration with EARidescent sprinkles.

Specialty Beverages

• Magical Beacon Cocktail – The specialty 50^th anniversary cocktail, found at many table-service restaurants, lounges and pool bars across Walt Disney World, features a delicious mix of gin, blue Curacao, Minute Maid^®Premium Lemonade, berry, orgeat, lemon, hibiscus grenadine and a souvenir glow cube.
• EARidescent Sip-a-bration – The specialty non-alcoholic mocktail, found at many table-service restaurants, lounges and pool bars across Walt Disney World, includes Minute Maid^® Premium Lemonade served in a novelty 50^th anniversary cup. The drink also includes a special surprise ingredient, shaped like Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Pluto or Donald Duck, that, when stirred into the drink, brings a magical change of color and flavor and a sprinkling of pixie dust.

There are so many tasty treats to celebrate the 50th Anniversary at Disney World.